Regis Le Bris is receptive to adding to his Sunderland squad but the Frenchman wants players who are “all in” on what he is trying to achieve.
Le Bris believes that was on show at the Stadium of Light on Sunday as Sunderland claimed their first Premier League win of the season by edging out Fulham 1-0 thanks to Wilson Isidor’s 75th-minute goal.
Isidor has joined several team-mates in signing new contracts at Sunderland, who have brought in defenders Thomas Meunier and Dayann Methalie and midfielder Jules Ahoka in this transfer window.
While Le Bris is open to bolstering an outfit that finished seventh last season, earning a spot in European football for the first time in 53 years, the Sunderland head coach is on the hunt for specific qualities.
Asked about potential arrivals before the Tuesday deadline, Le Bris said: “We’ll see. The most important is what we saw (against Fulham) in the core of the group, which was very good.
“The players are all in, you can’t play at that level if you are not all in and so well-connected with the project of the club. If you can add one or two signings to the squad, we will do it.”
Isidor, who this week committed to Sunderland until 2030, fired home after being teed up by fellow substitute Habib Diarra, just a few minutes after hitting the post from a similar gilt-edged chance.
Le Bris was on his haunches at the miss but barely reacted to Isidor breaking the deadlock, admitting afterwards he thought Diarra might have been offside when racing down the flank to collect the ball.
Le Bris added: “(Isidor) has a good future. He has to work hard again and again but he showed really good qualities.
“It’s important and the lads are really clear now about the rotation of the squad. They all want to be a starter but it’s not possible and the group is well-connected.
“You see they are frustrated when they are on the bench but they know they will have opportunities and this season is going to be really long and demanding so the roles they have are clear.”
While Sunderland bounced back from last week’s season-opening defeat at Ipswich, Fulham have now lost both matches under new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa after being beaten by Chelsea last week.
“We were far from our level,” Arbeloa said. “We need to improve in many things of our game, for sure. We need to demand more from ourselves.
“We are working with the club over the transfer window. We know we have some days and we are working to improve the squad.”
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